Page 22 of Colton
“I really appreciate that. I do. But I’m not really comfortable with the idea of you making a job for me.” I stopped running through my options. According to this letter, I could go back to my old job. My old life. The only problem with that is I’m not the old me.
How do I walk into the workplace that I left with my head hanging in shame two years ago? There will always be whispers about me. It doesn’t matter what anybody says.
“What area of the hospital desperately needs nurses right now? Where could I be of the most use?”
Elizabeth’s eyes light up. “Honestly, our Emergency department is desperate for qualified nurses. Do you have much experience in emergent settings?”
For the first time in this interview, I felt like I might be of service here. “Yeah, I spent about five years in the ER in Columbus.” To say Elizabeth was giddy would be an understatement. She all but begged me to take a role in the ER at a salary twenty-five percent higher than what I was earning in Columbus. Her enthusiasm was flattering, though I had a few moments of wondering how much of it was real and how much of it was influenced by the Brash Brothers’ money.
The rest of the meeting flew by, and now I’m here, standing in front of a guarded Colton, trying to figure out how to get myself out of the hole I dug yesterday. He’s been standoffish with me all day but made a genuine effort to be happy and engage with Mia.
“What are you going to do?” He asks again, staring off down the hall.
“I accepted a position here, in the ER. I start tomorrow.”
His eyes narrow, but otherwise his face stays impassive. He briefly meets my eyes. “I thought you were a NICU nurse?”
“That’s where I spent the last few years of my career. But I’ve also spent a lot of time in the ER and they really need the help there…Did you ask them to create me a position in the NICU?”
“No, I didn’t. I just told her about you and told her how much you loved that role. At least, Holly said you loved it.”
“And you’re sure your money didn’t influence her to make space for me?”
His jaw tightens. “I can’t say that for sure, Evie. We’ve donated a lot of money to this hospital, but I think I made it clear when I was talking to her that I didn’t expect her to hire you. The favor was giving you an interview.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Colt.”
“I’ve always been honest with you Evie.” He takes a deep breath, planting his hands on his hips and looking at the shiny white floor. “You’re going to need a place to stay. I know you said you couldn’t afford a condo, but I’m not sure you understand. We didn’t originally plan to keep those condos, we sold them when we built the building. But we put our gym on the floor above it and according to the people that lived in them, we were too loud up there.”
He looks up, rolling his eyes. “It makes no fucking sense, but there it is. So we bought them back and they’ve been sitting empty for a few years. So I can respect you not wanting to live there for free. But carrying those condos costs us money every month. So if you want to pay a little rent, you’d actually be helping us out. Getting us some positive cash flow.”
“You’re saying…I’d actually be helping you guys out by living there?”
“Yeah. I mean, we can afford to carry them, of course. But it would give you a place to call home, close to a support system. But if you don’t like it there, it’s going to sit empty. We won’t ever sell them, or advertise for renters. Downside, you may have to put up with noise from the gym upstairs.”
“Isn’t it a concrete building? Noise shouldn’t really carry.” How loud could they really be?
“Yep.” He mutters, shaking his head. “Foot thick, actually.”
Huh. Well, this is an interesting turn of events. “That might actually be OK,” I say, surprising even myself. “But what about all the money you spent furnishing it, and on Mia’s room?”
His eyes turn sad, and my heart breaks a little. “That was all me. I wanted to do it as a gift. Please don’t make it about money. I wanted to do it. It kept me busy the last few months and gave me something to look forward to. Don’t turn it into something bad, please.”
Ok then, I feel like the Wicked Witch of the East, coming to shit on everyone. I am the sucker of all the joy, apparently. “Ok…I think I can live with that. But no more buying stuff.”
His lip curls. “Not gonna happen. I enjoy buying things for the people in my life. I’m not going to stop. But I won’t buy anything big, like a pony for Mia, without running it past you.”
My eyes pop out of my head. “Pony? Ponies won’t ever be on the fucking table, Colt. Where the hell would we put a pony?”
He scoffs, like the answer is obvious. “I’d buy a farm first, of course.” He wanders away, back towards the daycare, muttering. “Like I’d put a pony in the apartment. They need grass. Oh… and other pony friends. But maybe something little…hamsters are freaky as fuck, but maybe something less rodent-like….”
I’m frozen to the floor and miss the rest. That was…too easy. I was a bitch last night. I still stand by what I said, but maybe it came off a little harsh. So I expected him to make me grovel a bit. But there was no apologizing, no groveling. Nothing.
Racing to catch up with him, I grab his hand and pull him to a stop at the doorway of the daycare. “Why are you making this so easy? I wasn’t very nice last night, Colt. Aren’t you expecting an apology from me?”
He’s staring down at our clasped hands. “Why the fuck would I need you to apologize for speaking your mind? I might not have liked it. I might not agree. But I respect the hell out of you Evie.”
Slowly, carefully, he tightens his grip. I can feel the calluses on his fingertips. I doubt most billionaires have them. I like the way he’s holding me, looking at me like I’m someone special to him. Whoever ends up with him is going to be a lucky girl. I’m sure she’ll be young, thin, blonde, and beautiful.
